Supervisor Seeks Delay in Closure of Remote Fire Station

Los Angeles County Supervisor Ed Edelman said Saturday he will ask his colleagues to delay closing a fire station in Lake Chatsworth until he can assure residents of the remote, hillside neighborhood that they will have adequate fire protection.

“The people who are served by the fire station are quite concerned,” Edelman said. “They’re interested in keeping the station open. It may be that we can work something out to save it. Before we close the station, we ought to at least see what could be done.”

Edelman said he will introduce a motion Tuesday calling for a detailed report on alternatives to closing the station.

After 57 years, Fire Station 75 had been scheduled to be shut down March 1 because of county budget cuts.

But about 200 fearful residents turned out to protest the station closing at a community meeting earlier this month.

Many recalled past fires in the area, one of which burned 52 houses in 1967.

“Our concern is the response time,” said Robert Roy, a retired firefighter and Lake Chatsworth resident since 1970. “The closest county fire station would be 11 miles away. They would arrive in time perhaps to cool the ashes.”

He said residents welcome the news of Edelman’s action.

County officials targeted the station on Lake Manor Drive for closure as part of a package of Fire Department cutbacks totaling $11 million.

The department would save $1 million if the station were closed.

Fire officials believe that the 4,300 Lake Chatsworth residents could be adequately served by nearby Los Angeles city fire stations.

However, no written agreement has been reached with the city, said Donald W. Wallace, Edelman’s field deputy in the west San Fernando Valley and a retired city firefighter. “A whole bunch of unanswered questions need to be looked at before we reduce fire services,” he said. “It needs a more careful look than it’s been given. We need to look at the alternatives.”

Fire Station 75 also serves about 1,000 Ventura County residents in the Box Canyon area.

That county has not paid for the service in the past, Edelman said.

“It could be that Ventura County may be willing to pay to help keep the station open,” Edelman said. “I have spoken to one of the supervisors there.”

Residents who live on the brush-covered hillsides argued that city fire companies would not provide adequate protection.

Raising their fears are tinder-dry conditions caused by the prolonged drought.

“The area is very prone to fires,” Edelman said. “It’s windy here and we have very inaccessible streets. Most are unpaved and not very well marked. Strange fire companies coming in here at night would have a hard time.”

Edelman said his action was influenced by the large number of people who expressed their concerns to his office.

“The people are frightened,” he said. “Their concerns are such that it’s my judgment we ought not to risk putting them in further danger by closing the fire station unless it’s absolutely necessary. At least, we should put a hold on it until we take another look.”